Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Bill Scheurer's Press Release on Police Interference with "Honk for Peace!" Campaiging
“Usually, the police just talk with us about safety recommendations, see that we are orderly and cooperative, wish us well, and go on their way,” says Jean Paskilades, a volunteer from Island Lake. That is, until this incident.
It seems that in Cook County and South Barrington free speech is against the law. Some law, some ordinance -- it is not clear. Police from both jurisdictions were unable to cite any specific city or county rules.
According to Scheurer, he and his volunteers had an “interesting and mutually respectful discussion” with the police about this point, as the officers talked on cell phones with unidentified superiors and struggled to find a reason to support their requests.
“We call this political campaigning -- not advertising, not demonstrating,” says Mike Amanti, a volunteer from Hoffman Estates. “We have held at least a dozen of these so far, with another dozen more scheduled on the calendar.”
At first, the police said “advertising” is not allowed on public rights of way. This, despite the stands of commercial (and political candidate) signs that pop up along the highways, and at every major intersection, like weeds.
“We told them that we were not advertising anything,” Scheurer says. “Advertising is what the other candidates do with TV commercials, junk mail, and annoying phone calls. We are campaigning -- interacting with voters.”
Another reason the police kept coming back to was that “demonstrating” requires a permit. The Scheurer campaign signs say only two things: “Scheurer for Congress” and “Honk for Peace.” The police allowed as how the “Scheurer for Congress” might be campaigning, but pointed to the “Honk for Peace” signs as the suspect items.
“We said that demonstrating is more like when George Bush comes to town and people fill the streets to protest the war,” Amanti explains. “Then it makes sense to get a permit because they have to shut down traffic and sidewalks and things. We were not protesting anything. We were campaigning -- letting voters know that Bill stands for peace.”
The police also kept raising the safety issue, even though the volunteers were sheltered behind a bike path that runs along off the road. If it was not safe for them, then the bike path should also be closed as a danger to bicyclists and pedestrians.
“We have a great respect for this safety issue,” says Scheurer. “But, how many times have you seen high school cheerleaders at busy intersections with pom-poms and signs trying to get drivers’ attention to pull in for their fundraiser car wash?”
No. It is not the activity that makes people nervous. It is the message. Peace is a scary message for politicians and others when their government is at war.
As more and more walls go up against freedom of speech and assembly -- with people who dissent cordoned off in so-called “free speech zones” away from elected officials and public observers -- what will become of our democracy?
“I wanted to stay and let them arrest me -- so did the others,” says Randi Scheurer, the candidate’s wife, who also photographed the entire incident. “But we had some students with us, and Bill always asks us to follow any instructions from the police.”
Maybe it is time for Scheurer to reconsider this policy and peaceably suffer arrest, if only to maintain the public’s right to free speech. If an independent, third-party campaign has to get a “permit” from the government to be free, are any of us now really free?
= = = = =
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
It seems that in Cook County and South Barrington free speech is against the law. Some law, some ordinance -- it is not clear. Police from both jurisdictions were unable to cite any specific city or county rules.
According to Scheurer, he and his volunteers had an “interesting and mutually respectful discussion” with the police about this point, as the officers talked on cell phones with unidentified superiors and struggled to find a reason to support their requests.
“We call this political campaigning -- not advertising, not demonstrating,” says Mike Amanti, a volunteer from Hoffman Estates. “We have held at least a dozen of these so far, with another dozen more scheduled on the calendar.”
At first, the police said “advertising” is not allowed on public rights of way. This, despite the stands of commercial (and political candidate) signs that pop up along the highways, and at every major intersection, like weeds.
“We told them that we were not advertising anything,” Scheurer says. “Advertising is what the other candidates do with TV commercials, junk mail, and annoying phone calls. We are campaigning -- interacting with voters.”
Another reason the police kept coming back to was that “demonstrating” requires a permit. The Scheurer campaign signs say only two things: “Scheurer for Congress” and “Honk for Peace.” The police allowed as how the “Scheurer for Congress” might be campaigning, but pointed to the “Honk for Peace” signs as the suspect items.
“We said that demonstrating is more like when George Bush comes to town and people fill the streets to protest the war,” Amanti explains. “Then it makes sense to get a permit because they have to shut down traffic and sidewalks and things. We were not protesting anything. We were campaigning -- letting voters know that Bill stands for peace.”
The police also kept raising the safety issue, even though the volunteers were sheltered behind a bike path that runs along off the road. If it was not safe for them, then the bike path should also be closed as a danger to bicyclists and pedestrians.
“We have a great respect for this safety issue,” says Scheurer. “But, how many times have you seen high school cheerleaders at busy intersections with pom-poms and signs trying to get drivers’ attention to pull in for their fundraiser car wash?”
No. It is not the activity that makes people nervous. It is the message. Peace is a scary message for politicians and others when their government is at war.
As more and more walls go up against freedom of speech and assembly -- with people who dissent cordoned off in so-called “free speech zones” away from elected officials and public observers -- what will become of our democracy?
“I wanted to stay and let them arrest me -- so did the others,” says Randi Scheurer, the candidate’s wife, who also photographed the entire incident. “But we had some students with us, and Bill always asks us to follow any instructions from the police.”
Maybe it is time for Scheurer to reconsider this policy and peaceably suffer arrest, if only to maintain the public’s right to free speech. If an independent, third-party campaign has to get a “permit” from the government to be free, are any of us now really free?
= = = = =
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 12:29 PM
